Name of the project: “ASA global hybrid”
Date of Project: April – June 2021
Projects duration: 3 months
Hosting & Coordinating Organisation: “ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH”
Sending organization: “BRAVO”
Place: Berlin, Germany
Participants: 2 participants (21– 35 years old )
Working language: English or/and German
Deadline for applying: 10.12.2020.
About ASA PROGRAMME
ASA Programme is part of ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH – Service for Development Initiatives. Engagement Global is commissioned by the German Federal Government and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In addition, the ASA Programme is currently co-funded by eight German states: Baden Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Hessen.
Project is within the scope of the programme elements ASA or ASA Academia In the Programme’s global format, a team of participants from Germany and a country in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Southeast Europe works together for three months (between April and June) either in an analogous mode with on-site presence in Germany or digitally from Germany and the respective partner country as well as three months (between July and December) either in an analogous mode with on-site presence in the respective partner country or digitally from Germany and the respective partner country.
The participants address a topic that is anchored in a developmental context and that is of current interest to institutions or, universities, in both countries. This teamwork allows participants to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by an international, partnership-based cooperation and to expand their skills for creating global and sustainable development.
The six-month team cooperation enables participation in an intensive exchange and may open participants’ eyes to new perspectives. But it also entails challenges. For a project to be successful in the global format, it is essential that all participants communicate with each other on the principles as well as the process of the project, and maintain close contact throughout the two phases.
Formal criteria:
- Age: 21 to 35
- Language skills relevant to the chosen project (project language).
- Very good proficiency of English, minimum level: B2 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, (CEFR). A certificate needs to be submitted by all non-native speakers (details see below). – BRAVO can provide certificate after FINAL INTERVIEW.
- Possibility and willingness to participate full-time 3 in both project phases without restrictions (i.e. place of residence at the project location or willingness to relocate for the respective project phase)
- If possible: member/staff (not at management level!) of partner institution or other engagement at the partner institution.
Professional skills:
- Professional knowledge pertaining to the project’s activities and requirements.
Social skills and motivation:
- Openness and willingness to learn, keen to acquire new skills, team player
- Interest in global relations as well as political and/or social engagement
- Enthusiastic about participating in the ASA Programme
Requirements for obligatory participation in the seminars and extra tutorials:
Participants will take part in three online seminars (during weekdays) and four three -hour extra tutorials between the seminars within the first project phase (April – June). For both, analogue and digital project implementation, participants must be able to attend the seminars and extra tutorials either with private laptop/pc and internet access and/or with laptop/pc and internet access provided by the partner institution in the respective partner country (digital project implementation) or the partner institution in Germany (analogue project implementation).
English language:
Participants will take part in three online seminars during the first project phase (April – June) which will be held in English only. Interpreting services will not be provided and cannot be provid ed by other participants. All official documents for ASA participants will be provided solely in English. For this reason, it is necessary that all participants in the global format – whether from Germany or from the partner countries – are highly proficient in English. While non-native speakers must evidence a minimum level of B2 (according to the CEFR) (see below), a level of C1 is highly recommended to ensure that all participants are able to follow seminar content and discussions easily.
“For participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina BRAVO will provide ENGLISH CERTIFICATE after Final Interview.
The selection of participants
The ASA Programme and BRAVO reviews applications from participants from partner countries based on the formal criteria provided by interested persons via their online registration. In early February by the latest, the participants from the partner countries will receive confirmation of their selection from the ASA Programme.
We will make selection until end of December 2020, but final confirmation from ASA Programme will be send in early February regarding the situation with Covid19 and support of European Commission.
Please note: the following bullet points only apply for analogue project implementation with on-site presence:
- Partner institutions will assist the participants in obtaining visas. The following applies to participants from partner countries: the ASA Programme will issue an invitation letter including insurance confirmation. However, the ASA Programme cannot provide a statement of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung). If this is required, it must be provided by the partner institution in Germany. Additional documents may possibly be required for visa applications, e.g., invitation provided by the partner institution in Germany, confirmation of flight reservations or verification of accommodation. Please refer to the information provided on the websites of the relevant embassies. Participants should also note that obtaining a visa does not guarantee entry. We thus strongly recommend to carrying copies of the invitation documents and verifications upon arrival.
- Visas for participants from countries in Africa, Asia, or Latin America covering a period longer than 90 days are possible only in exceptional cases and require visa applications to be submitted far in advance as prior approval may be required from the immigration authority and the employment agency. The ASA Programme cannot provide any support in such cases.
- The information provided in the general ASA Handbook applies to participants from Germany and their visa applications.
- The partner institutions in Germany will support participants traveling from abroad by assisting in flight bookings and financing the cost of the ticket(see 2 Financing).
- Please consider visa restrictions when planning flight routes. For example, it is not possible for a traveller holding a visa for the Schengen area to stop in London: in most cases, they must acquire an additional (transit) visa. Please ensure that participants arrive in Germany in time for the start of the first ASA seminar (see below). We also recommend that participants arrive in Germany on a weekday as the German Federal Police or other immigration officials occasionally contact Engagement Global to query certain information. Please let the ASA Programme know exactly how long participants from partner countries will be staying in Germany immediately after tickets have been acquired as this date forms the basis for insurance coverage. Please also inform participants from Germany of the travel dates that correspond to the duration of the project phase in Germany.
- It is highly recommended to support participants during their visa application process and doublecheck details; e.g. to ensure that all dates (including flight details, names, etc.) are correct and identical in all documents. Details matter and minor errors may have severe consequences (e.g. rejected visa applications or complications in the visa process, among others.)
- The ASA Programme will conclude a health and accident insurance f o r participants that cover the duration of their project phase abroad (the duration of the project phase in Germany for participants from partner countries, and the duration of the project phase in the partner country for participants from Germany). During the project phase in the participants’ own country, the participants are solely responsible for procuring their own insurance coverage. The terms of the insurance policy will be available in the cloud.
- The partner institutions in Germany will arrange accommodation for the participants from the partner country. They will coordinate this together with the participants from the partner countries in advance and ask them for their preferences. Furthermore, they will assist participants from Germany in the search for accommodation unless participants already reside at the project location. 8 The ASA Programme will provide a maximum monthly allowance (see 2.1) to cover the cost of accommodation for participants from the partner country. Any additional costs must be covered by the partner institution in Germany.
Seminar dates as part of the 2021 ASA Programme for participants in the global format:
Please note:
The projects in the global format are divided into two groups (SG II and SG V), each of which is supported by a different contact person from the office of the ASA Programme. In addition, due to the time difference, the seminars and extra tutorials for these two groups take place on the same day (see above) but at different times:
- Online seminar group Global I (SG V): in the morning (CEST)
- Online seminar group Global II (SG II): in the afternoon (CEST)
With the confirmation, participants will receive information about which of the two groups their project belongs to. Participants will receive the exact times of the seminars and extra tutorials with their invitation to the seminars.
1.5 Second project phase (three months between July and December)
The second project phase will take place with all participants together analogue in African, Asian, Latin American, and Southeast European countries or digitally from Germany and the partner country.
- In contrast to the basic format, the participants in the global format will have already worked together for three months at the beginning of the second project phase ( in the partner country). The group will generally have grown together as a team and developed specific working habits. However, it is still beneficial to organize a meeting with participants and the partner institution(s) with the participation of and/or in coordination with the partner institution(s) in Germany – at the start of the second project phase. This is partly due to the fact that the project focus may have 10 changed slightly subsequent to work already performed during the first project phase in Germany or as a result of changes to the partner institutions’ requirements and needs. It may also be helpful to reflect on how the previous cooperation went and how this process was organized by the partner institution(s), as well as how it may be structured in future, as this will help shape further procedures.
- We advise not leaving the participants from the partner country to deal with certain tasks, such as mentoring and ASA project support, alone. The participants from the partner country are as much part of the project team as the participants from Germany, and may need to be granted leave from their everyday activities in the organization if they are members of staff. The same also applies in terms of project content: one responsible person outside of the ASA project team must be appointed, whom participants can then contact in case of content-related questions.
- At the end of this project phase, an evaluation of the second project phase (in the partner country) should be organized by the partner institution(s) in the respective country with the participation of and/or in coordination with the partner organization in Germany.
- At the latest, one month after the end of the second project phase (three months between July and December), the source and disposition statement (Verwendungsnachweis) must be submitted to Engagement Global (Berlin). Details will be provided in the cooperation and transfer agreement (Kooperations- und Weiterleitungsvertrag).
2.Financing
To be able to implement projects in the global format within the scope of the ASA Programme, supplementary financing by the participating partner institutions in Germany is necessary.
The grants for each project phase and all participants are calculated for a period of 90 days. For project phases shorter than 85 days, the grant will be calculated on a per-day basis and be reduced accordingly. Funds that already have been disbursed will need to be refunded.
First project phase (April – June)
Analogue project implementation from Germany
The cost incurred by participants from countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Southeast Europe during their stay in Germany, including travel costs and other project costs, will be borne jointly by Engagement Global and the relevant partner institution in Germany. This is to ensure partner country participants’ needs are suitably met in terms of accommodation, spending allowance, insurance, meals, language classes, transportation, and visas/residence permits. The spending allowance should be sufficient to enable participants the access to at least a minimum level of services in Germany, e.g., restaurants, entertainment.
- Engagement Global’s ASA Programme will offer a grant of € 843,00 per month (=30 days) per participant from the partner country for the duration of the project phase in Germany. This grant is calculated based on a monthly spending allowance of € 350,005 as well as monthly allowances for accommodation (max. € 235,00) and meals (max. € 258,00)
- Additionally, Engagement Global will bear the costs of providing health and accident insurance for the participants from the partner countries for the duration of the project (max. 90 days). The insurance policies will be concluded directly by Engagement Global. Third party insurance is not included.
- The partner institution in Germany will bear all other expenses, in particular, for flights, visas (if required), and costs for project implementation (rooms, material, public relations work, etc.), as well as costs for language courses.7 These costs must be covered by the institution’s own funds or through fundraising. The project cannot take place without this contribution.
- Engagement Global will conclude a cooperation and transfer agreement (Kooperations- und Weiterleitungsvertrag) with the respective partner institution in Germany in early 2021. This agreement will specify the items for which the funds will be used. The partner institution in Germany will be responsible for managing the funds and invoicing vis- à-vis Engagement Global. The proper use of the funds must be verified after the completion of both project phases through the provision of the relevant financial statements and original receipts (Verwendungsnachweis). Proof of the disbursement of meal and spending allowances to participants from partner countries must always be provided. The same applies to accommodation costs.
- Participants from the partner countries must receive € 258,00 to cover meal costs and a spending allowance of € 350,00 every month. These funds must be paid out by the German partner institution to the participant from the partner country on a fixed monthly date either in cash or to a separate account. Depending on the date of entry, this should be the first or the fifteenth day of each month. Deviations from this rule, e.g., paying for cafeteria meals and deducting such costs from living expenses, are not permitted under any circumstances. The amount of € 235,00 for accommodation costs must not be handed out to the participants, as accommodation needs to be paid directly by the German partner institution.
- Additional accommodation and transport costs (e.g. monthly travel pass valid for the project location and travel within the scope of the project, possibly a Bahncard/ rail card) must also be covered for the participants from the partner countries. In the event that costs for the accommodation exceed the subsidized amount of € 235,00 per month, the difference must be covered from funds provided by the partner institution in Germany. The participants’ spending allowance may not be utilized for this purpose. In any case, it is important to clarify the payment arrangements for allowances to participants from the partner countries prior to the start of the project phase in Germany. Ideally, the partner should set up an individual account for the participants from the partner countries for the duration of this phase.
HOW TO APPLY?
Complete the APPLICATION FORM in English title as following ”name of the project you are applying for” until 23:59 on deadline day.
Deadline for applying: 10.12.2020.
Selection results: 15.12.2020.
PARTICIPATION FEE: NO PARTICIPATION FEE
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